Autism Spectrum Disorders affect 1 in 110 U.S. children, impacting 13 million families. (The term Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) encompasses the three branches of the autism disorder: Autism, Asperger Syndrome, and Pervasive Developmental Disorder – Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS).) Parents not only feel overwhelmed when it comes to finding resources for their kids, they also [...]

The winter holiday season, including New Years, Christmas, Hanukkah, and Thanksgiving, is an emotionally charged time of year. Unfortunately for many people, those emotions include sadness, loneliness, and anxiety. It’s easy for the season to take its toll on mental health, even for those who do not suffer from a mental illness. Headaches, excessive drinking, overeating, arguments, and [...]

Winter is fully upon us. Hours of sunlight are at a minimum and the weather can often become gloomy. For people suffering from depression, it can be a difficult time of year, as many physical strategies – such as engaging in outdoor activities on warm, sunny days  –  for managing the mental illness are no [...]

“The job was gone, the gun was loaded, and a voice was saying, ‘You’re a waste, give up now, do it now.’” When life presents its unfortunate twists and turns, it is often too much for some to bear. Joe Holt, an entrepreneur from Missouri, understands this feeling all too well. Fired from his first consulting [...]

English actor, screenwriter, author, playwright, journalist, poet, comedian, and film director Stephen Fry is the picture of success. And he is bipolar, something that was diagnosed until he was 37 and suffered a frightening brush with deep depression and suicidal feelings. Fry disappeared for a week and when he reappeared he sought treatment for his [...]

The words “inpatient rehabilitation” may sound intimidating, but for many patients, the experience turns out to be one of the best things to happen to them. Inpatient rehab may be ideal for young adults with mental health disorders requiring longer term care and who may also be present with a drug or alcohol addiction. The [...]

“So many people have begged me to come forward,” says mental health therapist Marsha M. Linehan of the University of Washington. “I owe it to them.” With that thought, Dr. Linehan, whose mental illness as young woman merited her the distinction of “one of the most disturbed patients in the hospital”, publically told her story [...]

Chief executive and board member of NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Keris Myrick knows first-hand what it’s like to live with the challenging mental illness known as schizophrenia; she herself suffers from the condition. “I feel my brain is damaged; I don’t know any other way to say it,” Ms. Myrick says. “I don’t know [...]

Pasadena Villa is an adult residential treatment facility that caters to individuals with bipolar syndrome, dual diagnosis, and other challenging mental illnesses. We offer medication management and traditional and group therapies. In keeping with the spirit of our Social Integration Model, we like to draw attention to famous figures who have learned how to cope [...]

While many young adults may not recognize the name Carrie Fisher, they undoubtedly know the beautiful brunette from her role in the original Star Wars trilogy as Princess Leia or as the current spokesperson for Jenny Craig. But there’s much more to Fisher than acting or her best-selling books – Fisher is bipolar, something she [...]